The Lightning was
designed in 1937 as a high-altitude interceptor. The first one
built, the XP-38, made its public debut on February 11, 1939 by
flying from California to New York in seven hours. Because of its
unorthodox design, the airplane experienced "growing
pains" and it required several years to perfect it for
combat. Late in 1942, it went into large-scale operations during
the North African campaign where the German Luftwaffe named it
"Der Gabelschwanz Teufel" -- "The Forked-Tail
Devil." Equipped with droppable fuel tanks under its
wings, the P-38 was used extensively as a long-range escort
fighter and saw action in practically every major combat area of
the world. A very versatile aircraft, the Lightning was also used
for dive bombing, level bombing, ground strafing and photo
reconnaissance missions. By the end of production in 1945,
9,923 P-38s had been built.